She’d been pure magic in his arms, just as he’d suspected she would be. The chemistry and fire between them was like nothing he’d ever experienced.
Despite whatever reservations she’d had in the beginning, she’d trusted him enough to open herself to him completely, and he knew what a precious gift that was. He only prayed that the entire experience had been as wonderful for her as it had been for him and that he’d managed to exorcise some of the ghosts of her past.
He'd definitely managed to rid himself of some of his. He’d made sure to put her pleasure first, which she’d made incredibly easy. She’d been open enough to the experience to allow him to experiment with some of the things he’d heard about through the years, things Anne would never have allowed him to try.
A blast of chill wind came through the eaves, and he shivered, pulling the blanket farther up around them. It hurt him to think she’d been living this way, a little refugee in the attic. He wanted so badly to make her life better, to give her all the things his wealth and privilege could buy, even though she obviously didn’t think she needed them. He couldn’t even imagine what her childhood had been like if she was content with so little.
Most of all, he just wanted her to always feel safe, to know that he would always take care of her and that she didn’t have to work so hard.
With a sigh, he gave her temple one more lingering kiss, then carefully eased himself out of the bed. He dressed in the cold darkness, tucked the thin blanket around her as tightly as he could without waking her, and then tiptoed out of the room.
Chapter Fourteen
The next morning, Fionawoke and stretched lazily, staring up into the rafters above her head, her mind spinning with all that had happened. She still couldn’t quite believe that Morgan actually wanted to court her. That he’d kissed her and held her so tenderly. That he’d wanted her to have dinner with his family.
They’d made love...
It all still seemed surreal, like a dream. And she didn’t want to move, because if she did, she was afraid she’d wake up.
For a few moments more, she let herself drift in the fantasy, but then, she shook her head and pushed herself to a sitting position.
It felt like a dream because it was. She couldn’t let herself forget that Morgan would never want her if he knew the truth about her past. She’d told him she wasn’t a virgin, but he probably thought she’d had just one youthful indiscretion. He couldn’t possibly imagine how used she was, how ruined and broken.
With a sigh, she began to get dressed for the day, staring longingly at the beautiful dress that still lay over the chair where she’d draped it last night.
Last night had been a beautiful dream, and she’d been foolish enough to let herself get lost in it. But she couldn’t go through with this. If Morgan came today, she’d have to tell him the truth, no matter how much it hurt to do so.
He thought she was someone he could love, someone he could marry. But the mere fact that she’d given herself to him last night showed the kind of woman she was. He probably had no respect for her this morning.
The mere thought of watching the admiration in his eyes fade and be replaced with disgust—or even worse, pity—nearly overwhelmed her. But somehow, she managed to push through the pain, as she had so many times in her life.
What she needed to do was plan another trip as Prometheus. She’d let herself become completely sidetracked by Morgan over the last few weeks. And because of her selfishness, children were out there suffering terribly. She could have saved several during the time she’d been mooning over Morgan.
Lifting her chin, she resolved that today she would accomplish both goals. She’d tell Morgan the truth about herself, and she’d also save another child.
* * *
